The Breakfast Club — “Donkey of the Day: Dentist Defends Joke About Care For Patients Who Don’t Support Trump”

Date: September 29, 2025
Hosts: Charlamagne tha God, DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious
Podcast: The Breakfast Club (iHeartPodcasts)

Overview

In this episode’s “Donkey of the Day” segment, Charlamagne tha God tackles a viral controversy involving Dr. Harleen Grewal, a Santa Clarita, California dentist and outspoken Trump supporter. Dr. Grewal was seen in a resurfaced video joking about giving less care to patients who are not Trump supporters. Charlamagne analyzes the broader implications of the joke, discussing societal trust and professional responsibility, while posing larger questions about discrimination, cancel culture, and the responsibilities of those in positions of power.

Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. Incident Background & The Viral Video (03:05–05:31)

• Subject: Dr. Harleen Grewal, a dentist, made a remark in a now-resurfaced video about providing different dental care to non-Trump supporters.
• The Joke:
  • Dr. Harleen Grewal (04:34):
    “So I have a secret hat I use sometimes. It says, make your smile great again. So I wear that when I work on my patients, so when they look horrified or complain, I quietly cut back on the laughing gas.”
• The video was originally posted two years ago but recently circulated widely, leading to backlash and patient losses.

2. Dr. Grewal’s Response & Investigation (05:00–05:19)

• Dr. Grewal claims the joke was made at a women’s Republican group event, intended for humor, and is part of a politically motivated campaign to “cancel” her.
• She emphasizes that an official dental board investigation found “nothing they could find that proved any of that.”
• Despite the investigation’s outcome, some patients reported to media that they are switching dentists.

3. Charlamagne’s Take: Trust, Professionalism, and Division (05:31–08:26)

• On Professional Conduct and Social Trust:
  • Charlamagne (05:31):
    “Why didn’t I laugh?... But my thing is, those shouldn’t be reasons not to support people, but it absolutely is if that person is on BS like Dr. Harleen Grewal is.”
  • He stresses the importance of trust in society—comparing reliance on dentists, pilots, baristas, and food service workers.
  • Expresses concern about eroding trust when professionals in critical fields (like healthcare) are seen as biased or discriminatory.
  • Charlamagne (06:43):
    "What happens when we can no longer trust each other?... The only thing that keeps our society civilized is trust."
• Questioning Priorities:
  • Charlamagne (07:23):
    “You love being MAGA more than you love being a dentist. Like, you spend all this time... just to lose it because you want to discriminate against people based on what political party they're in?”
• Warns about risking career and livelihood for transient political statements and the long-term consequences of losing public trust.

4. Consequences and Public Backlash (07:23–08:26)

• Notes that the dental board cleared Grewal, but damage is done as patients leave and trust erodes.
• Highlights that professional misconduct, even when “joking,” can have serious reputational and career consequences.
• Charlamagne (07:58):
  “Does MAGA have a support group for you when you lose your job? Is there a pantry you can go to to feed yourself when you lose your career over a temporary moment in politics?”

5. Donkey of the Day Award and Final Thoughts (08:26–08:54)

• Charlamagne officially dubs Dr. Grewal “Donkey of the Day,” playing the show’s signature sound bite.
• Doubles down on the seriousness of her comments, regardless of intent or timing, and critiques efforts to brush them off as harmless.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Golden Rule and Division:
  Charlamagne (03:52):
  “Do unto others as you would have them doing to you. Simple concept that I live by. Okay? Treat people the way you would like to be treated.”

• On Trust in Society:
  Charlamagne (06:43):
  “The only thing that keeps our society civilized is trust. ...For the most part, the batting average of trust is pretty good.”

• On Losing Professional Credibility Over Politics:
  Charlamagne (07:24):
  “Why would you even risk your whole livelihood over a red hat?”

• On the Joke and Accountability:
  Charlamagne (08:43):
  “She said that, you know, somebody is just out there trying to cancel her because the video is two years old. But ain’t nothing funny about that.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Donkey of the Day Introduction: 02:47
• Summary of Incident and Audio Clip: 03:05–05:31
• Charlamagne’s Analysis on Trust and Professionalism: 05:31–07:23
• Consequences, Licensure, and Risk: 07:23–08:26
• Donkey of the Day Sound Bite & Final Thoughts: 08:26–08:54

Recap: Takeaways for Listeners

• Even “jokes” from professionals about discrimination can erode vital trust and damage careers, irrespective of intent or outcome.
• The episode examines not just political division, but also the fundamental need for trust between the public and service providers.
• Charlamagne delivers his critique with signature candor and humor, but underscores the seriousness with which such breaches of trust should be regarded.

For listeners new to this controversy or the segment, this episode provides both the facts of the incident and a broader societal commentary, with strong opinions and memorable quotes throughout.